Apparatus for effecting register of multiple operations



June 20, 1939. w GRUPE 2,163,035

APPARATUS FOR EFPECI'ING REGISTER 0F MULTIPLE OPERATIONS Filed July '7,1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR, ilham F. Gru c ORNEY June 20, 1939. w.F. GRUPE 2,163,035

APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING REGISTER OF MULTIPLE OPERATIONS Filed July '7,1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5G INVENTOR,

53 5a \liilham FGnu e HI TORNEY Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE OPERATIONS William F. Grape. Lyndhurst, N. 3., assignmtoChambon Corporation, Garfield, N. 1., a corporation of New YorkApplication July I, 1936, Serial No. 89.301

operation, due to atmospheric and other eflects upon the web and/ormechanical irregularities.

Accordingly, to effect proper register of a second and/or succeedingprinting impression, frequently of different color and to effect properregister of transverse severing, scoring, perforating, embossing and/ordie cutting, it is desirable to control the second and succeedingimpression and/or mechanical treatment in relation to the firstimpression.

Most desirably, such control is effected while the web is in motionthrough the printing and/or other mechanical operation efiecting means.

In general, my invention is preferably carried out by positively drivingthe respective two or more printing units and/or mechanical devices 0coordinated therewith by a common driving means and by providingsuitable meanssuch as a worm, adjustable in relation to the commondriving means, individually for the respective second and succeedingprinting units and/or other mechanical operation eifecting meanssucceeding the first printing unit.

In the more preferred types oi my invention, a target" is employed,which may be in the form of a mark applied to the printed face of theweb or a selected part of the printed matter, or a perforation or thelike applied to the web, as an aid in efiecting register.

In the most preferred forms of my invention, assuming the target to beapplied simultaneously with the first operation, and the employment of aphoto-electric or other responsive device, upon longitudinal variationof the web relative to the stated succeeding operations, caused byatmospheric or other effects upon the web, the register of the secondprinting unit and/or other mechanical operation effecting devicesubsequent to the first printing unit is controlled relative to thefirst operation.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fully undertood from the following detail description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, largely diagrammatic,illustrating the application of my invention to a multiple printingmachine, the registering mechanism indicated therein being of themanually controlled type.

Fig. 2 is a detail view, in elevation of an adjustable drivingconnection between a main drive shaft and a printing unit or othermechanical operation effecting device operable pursuant to my invention.

Fig. 3 is a detail central sectional view of another form of adjustabledriving connection, operable pursuant to my invention.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of another embodiment of my invention,illustrating the employment of the adjustable driving connection shownin Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail top plan view, largely diagrammatic, illustrating theprinciple of operation of the control individually at several operatingunits, such as a second printing and transverse severing device,respectively responsive to a photoelectric device, electric contactdevice or equivalent.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a web in of paper, cellulosefilm, metallic foil, etc., subjected to multiple printing impressionsand coordinated mechanical operation such as transverse slitting,perforating, scoring, embossing, die cutting or the like, I haveindicated in Fig. 1 a bed ll, serving advantageously for the commonsupport of such multiple printing and other mechanical operationeifecting devices. The web I0 is desirably supplied from a roll II,which may be rotatably supported in any suitable manner, as by means ofthe indicated bracket i3.

Preferably, as is indicated in Fig. l, the web I is fed to therespective printing and/or other mechanical operation effecting units bymeans of a suitable feed unit such as is indicated at M, comprisingessentially a set of rolls I ia, Ito, for positively feeding the web Illfrom such roll if or equivalent supply. Preferably, also, the web Itafter treatment is positively pulled by a suitable pull unit such asindicated at l5, comprising essentially a pair of rolls l5a, l5a,between which the web is positively passed.

As above indicated, such feed unit it and pull unit i5 is positivelydriven in coordination with the operation of the printing units andsevering unit and similarly with additional printing units and/ormechanical operation efi'ecting device, as appears more particularlyhereinafter.

In Fig. i the first printing unit is indicated at I8, which may be ofconventional or other approved construction. Its printing cylinder isindicated at I5a and its impression cylinder at I5b, between which theweb I is passed. The second printing unit is indicated at I1, and withrespect to its printing mechanism per se may be of conventional or ofother approved construction. Its printing cylinder is indicated at Ilaand its impression cylinder at Ilb. At 2i is shown a transverse severingdevice.

As above indicated, and as illustrated in Fig. l, the above statedmechanisms are positively driven by a main drive shaft I3, which forillustrative purposes may be driven by an electric motor Ill,mechanically coupled with the main drive shaft I8 by any suitable means,such as a belt and pulley 20, the latter secured to the main drive shaftI8.

Pursuant to my invention, the printing cylinder Ila of the secondprinting unit I1, is connected by suitable adjustable means with themain drive shaft I8, whereby the effective movement of the printingcylinder Ila may be coordinated with the impression upon the web III,effected by the first printing unit Ill.

As one form of such adjustable connection I illustrate in Fig. 2 a worm22 mounted on and positively driven by the main shaft I3 through thefeather 23 and axially adjustable relative to the main shaft I3 bysuitable means affording said axial adjustment while maintaining mesh ofthe convolutions of the worm relative to the teeth of the worm gear 24',which is rigidly secured to the shaft Ila of the printing cylinder Ila.

Such axial adjustment of such worm 22 may be had by any suitable means.As one form of said adjustment means I have shown the worm 22 providedwith recessed terminal portions 22a, 22b, the respective recesses beingindicated at 22a and 22b, in which are respectively received the forks25, 25, projecting from and secured to a yoke 28, in turn suitablyadjustable longitudinally of the bed II, as by means of a screw 21,rotatably mounted in suitable brackets 23, 28, with suitable means suchas thrust collars 29, 29, for precluding axial displacement of the screw21. The setting of such screw 21 may be effected by any suitable means.In Fig. 2, as is also indicated in Fig. l, I have shown a crank 30, asindicative of suitable means for operating the screw 21. The screw 21may, as preferred, be operated either manually or by means of a suitablemotor or other power means.

Accordingly, by rotation of the main shaft l3, the worm 22 is positivelydriven through the feather 23, in turn driving the worm gear 24 and theprinting cylinder Ila at a predetermined surface speed. The rotation ofthe adjustment screw 21 causes a displacement of the yoke 26, which inturn displaces axially the worm 22, thus imparting an additive orsubtractive increment to the movement of the worm gear 24, relative toits rotation by the main shaft I8.

In operation, the feed rolls Ha, Ha, of the feed unit I4, the printingcylinder I80. and its impression cylinder IBb of the first printingunit, the printing cylinder Ila and its impression cylinder Ilb of thesecond printing unit and the rolls I50, Ia, of the pull unit I5 arepositively driven by the common driving means, such as the main driveshaft I8, to attain identical surface speed. The mechanical operationeffecting means, such as the transverse severing means 2|, is likewisedriven in synchronism with such predetermined surface speed. Under thecondition of stretching on contraction of the web, during the transit ofthe web through the stated mechanism, registration of the secondprinting unit, and similarly registration of any succeeding printingunit and of the transverse severing means 2| and/or other mechanicaloperation effecting means, is had by proper adjustment of the respectiveindividual driving means of the character shown in Fig. 2.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the printing cylinder Ila of theprinting unit I1, is driven by the worm gear 24, which meshes with theworm 3I, secured to a collar 32, embracing and supported by the shaftI8, but rotatable relative thereto, and driven by pinion 33. Pinion 33is driven by pinion 34 which may be secured through a freely rotatingshaft 35 to the pinion 36, pinions 34 and 36 being of different pitchdiameters. Pinion 36 is driven by pinion 31, secured to the main driveshaft I3. Desirably, two or more sets of pinions 34, 35, with theirassociated shafts 35, may be symmetrically arranged in planetaryrelationship to the shaft I8. Such one or more shafts 35 are freelyrotatlvely mounted in the housing 38, to which is suitably attached theworm wheel 39 meshing with the worm 40, secured to the regulating shaft4|.

Under the stage of drive of the main drive shaft l8, assuming thehousing 38 at a set, i. e., stationary position, the stated gearingeffects the drive of the printing cylinder Ila at the predeterminedsurface speed. Additive or subtractive increments of motion of theprinting cylinder Ila are obtained by rotation of the housing 38, bysuitable movement of the regulating shaft M, which may be actuatedmanually, or by motor or other suitable power means.

Fig. 4 illustrates the employment of the form of my invention shown inFig. 3, applied to a second printing unit, i. e. the printing unit Il,and transverse severing device I, like reference characters indicatingcorresponding parts shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically the application of the form of myinvention illustrated in Fig. 3, to the regulation of a printingcylinder Ila and also a transverse severing device 2I, the registrationbeing controlled by motors 45, suitably connected to the regulatingshafts 4|, individually for the respective printing or mechanicaloperation effecting devices, such motors 45 being selectively actuatedby suitable target" responsive means indicated diagrammatically at 46,48, such "target responsive means being disposed in the normal path ofthe "targets" 41 applied to the web III by any suitable means such asthe first printing cylinder Illa.

It will be noted that printing cylinder Ila is mounted on shaft Ilathrough a feather 48, so that said printing cylinder Ila may be axiallydisplaced relative to its shaft IIa'.- A yoke 43, in which the shaft Ilais rotatively mounted, which bears respectively against the oppositeends of the printing cylinder Ila, is maintained or adjusted in lateralposition by the screw 50, which engages suitably threaded end 5| of theyoke 49. Said screw 50 is rotatably supported in the bracket 52, securedto the bed II of the press. Axial movement of the screw 50 is preventedby the thrust collars 53, 54. The rotation of the screw 50 may be had byany suitable means, such as by means of a worm wheel 55, suitably drivenby a worm or equivalent attached to a regulatory shaft 55, which may becontrolled manually or by motor or other suitable power means. In thismanner, corrections in lateral registration may be eil'ected, thoughthis mechanism forms no part of my present invention.

Under certain circumstances, if desired as in a printing machineembodying two printing devices or a single mechanical operationeffecting device succeeding a single printing device, my arrangement foreffecting registration of such two devices may be applied to the firstprinting device.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific formsthereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for effecting the register of successive operations upon alongitudinally traveling web, comprising a plurality of rotatabledevices arranged successively longitudinally of the web for operationthereon; a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the web andinterconnecting in drive relation with the first of said rotatabledevices; and respective adjustable means interconnecting the said driveshaft in drive relation witheach rotatable device subsequent to thefirst, said adjustable means comprising a drive gear in mesh with a gearadapted to rotate the particular rotatabledevice concerned, said drivegear being mounted on said drive shaft with its rotative axis in commontherewith, said drive gear, further, being mounted on said drive shaftfor free movement relative to said drive shaft at a speed different thanthe speed of rotation of said drive shaft.

2. Apparatus for effecting the register of successive operations upon alongitudinally traveling web, comprising a plurality of rotatabledevices arranged successively longitudinally of the web for operationthereon, each being provided with an actuating worm gear; a drive shaftextending longitudinally of the web and interconnecting in driverelation with the first of said rotatable devices; and respectiveadjustable means interconnecting the said drive shaft in drive relationwith each rotatable device subsequent to the first, said adjustablemeans comprising a worm coax'ially keyed to said drive shaft for limitedsliding movement therealong, said worm being in mesh with the said wormgear of its corresponding rotatable device, and means adapted foractuation independently of said drive shaft for effecting said slidingmovement of the worm relative to the drive shaft.

3. A variable drive for a rotatable element, comprising a drive shaftadapted to rotate at constant speed, a rotatable drive member mountedcoaxially with said drive shaft for rotation in synchronism therewithand for controlled movement out of synchronlsm therewith, meansinterconnecting said rotatable element and said rotatable drive memberin drive relationship, and means adapted to be driven independently ofsaid drive shaft for actuating the said rotatable drive member in itssaid movement out of synchronism with said drive shaft.

4. A variable drive for a rotatable element, comprising a drive shaftadapted to rotate at constant speed, a worm gear adapted to actuate saidrotatable element, a worm coaxially keyed to said drive shaft forlimited sliding movement thereon parallel with its axis of rotation,said worm being in mesh with said worm gear, and means adapted to beactuated independently of said drive shaft for effecting said slidingmovement of the worm relative to the drive shaft.

5. The combination with a printing machine adapted to operate on amoving web and including a printing unit and a device operative on theweb subsequently thereto, of a drive shaft extending longitudinallyalong the path of travel of said web for driving said printing unit andsaid device, and means operatively disposed intermediate said device andsaid drive shaft for affording additive or subtractive increments ofmovement of said device relative to said drive shaft, and meansresponsive to a target carried by said web for initiating operation ofsaid intermediate means.

6. The combination with a printing machine adapted to operatesuccessively on a target hearing web, said machine embodying a printingunit, a device operative on the web subsequently thereto, and means forfeeding the target bearing web through the machine, of a drive shaftextending longitudinally along the path of travel of said web fordriving said printing unit and said device. means operatively disposedintermediate said device and said drive shaft for affording additive orsubtractive increments of movement of said device relative to said driveshaft, and means responsive to said target for initiating operation ofsaid intermediate means, said intermediate means comprising worm meansand a thereto meshing worm wheel.

7. The combination with a printing machine adapted to operate on amoving web and including a printing unit and a device operative on theweb subsequently thereto, of a drive shaft extending longitudinallyalong the path of travel of said web for driving said printing unit andsaid device, means operatively disposed intermediate said device andsaid drive shaft for affording additive or subtractive increments ofmovement of said device relative to said drive shaft, and meansresponsive to a target carried by said web for initiating operation ofsaid intermediate means, said intermediate means comprising worm meansadjustably related to said drive shaft.

8. The combination with a printing machine adapted to operate on amoving web and including a printing unit adapted to apply a target tothe web, a device operative on the web subsequently thereto, and meansfor feeding said web into the machine, of a drive shaft extendingiongitudinally along the path of travel of said web for driving saidprinting unit and said device; means operatively disposed intermediatesaid device and said drive shaft for affording additive or subtractiveincrements of movement of said device relative to said drive shaft, saidmeans comprising worm means adjustably related to said drive shaft, anda worm wheel meshing with said worm means and associated with saiddevice for driving the same; and means responsive to said target forinitiating operation of said intermediate means.

9. The combination with a printing machine adapted to operate on amoving web and including first and second printing units, of a driveshaft extending longitudinally along the path of travel of the web fordriving said first and second printing units, means operatively disposedintermediate said second printing unit and said drive shaft forproducing additive or subtractive increments of movement of said secondprinting unit relative to said drive shaft, and means responsive to atarget carried by said web for initiating operation of said intermediatemeans.

"Ill

said second printing unit and said drive shaft for producing additive orsubtractive increments of movement 0! said printing cylinder relative tosaid drive shaft, and means responsive to said target for initiatingoperation of said intermediate means.

WILLIAM F. GRUPE.

D I S C L A l M E R 2,163,035.-William F. Grape, Lyndhurst, N. J.APPARATUS ma Err-norms Rnals'ma or MULTIPLE OPERATIONS. olaimer filedDecember 7, 1940, by the assignee, Champlain Corporation.

enters this disclaimer to claims 2 and 4 of said Letters Patent.

Hereb flicial Gazette January 7, 1941.]

Patent dated June 20, 1939. Dissaid second printing unit and said driveshaft for producing additive or subtractive increments of movement 0!said printing cylinder relative to said drive shaft, and meansresponsive to said target for initiating operation of said intermediatemeans.

WILLIAM F. GRUPE.

D I S C L A l M E R 2,163,035.-William F. Grape, Lyndhurst, N. J.APPARATUS ma Err-norms Rnals'ma or MULTIPLE OPERATIONS. olaimer filedDecember 7, 1940, by the assignee, Champlain Corporation.

enters this disclaimer to claims 2 and 4 of said Letters Patent.

Hereb flicial Gazette January 7, 1941.]

Patent dated June 20, 1939. Dis-

